Home World (Steven Universe AU)

Summary:

In which two hybrids try to solve their own problems

His initial plan was to go to Peridot to help activate the Diamond Line, but after remembering how she did it, he figured, "It's easy enough." All one had to do was twist the two halves to the right color. Unfortunately, it wasn't as easy as that, because he was currently having trouble even twisting it. He tried pressing it down and then twisting, but it didn't budge. He tried again, twisting it in the opposite direction, and still, no results.

How did Peridot do it? She made it look so easy the last time she used it. Is there a secret button? he wondered, examining the object. There didn't seem to be any slight dents or marks to indicate a button.

He tried asking the Gems for help. Amethyst didn't know how it worked—in fact, she almost broke it—and this was literally his only connection to Blue. Pearl seemed to avoid the subject altogether, and he hadn't seen Garnet since they got home. Guess the two older ones must still be wary of Blue, he thought, despite her being the one to help them escape. Maybe they'd change their minds slowly, once Blue actually returned to Earth, just like Garnet predicted.

Steven heaved a frustrated sigh, tossing the device to the side of the bed—only to immediately leap after it, snatching it back up when it bounced a little too close to the edge. No way was he risking breaking it. Looks like he'd have to go back to Plan A: going to Peridot.

Wait—what would Lapis think? How old was Blue when Lapis tried going back to Homeworld? Did she even meet Blue? Does she know the original Blue Diamond is no more?

Steven got up from his bed, deciding to chance it. As he walked toward the Warp Pad, he ran through potential conversations in his mind, trying to figure out what to say if they freaked out—and how to ask for help contacting a monarch so different from her mother.

"Hey, guys, um, listen, Peri. Can you contact Blue for me?"

Or,

"Hey, guys, guess what? I'm not the only human-Gem hybrid after all."

Neither option felt good enough. Steven stepped onto the Warp Pad, still searching for the right words.

In the blink of an eye, he was at the barn—but he didn't immediately run toward it.

"Um, hey guys, did you know—no, no, that's too forward." Steven cut off his soliloquy. He still had no idea how to ask this without potentially freaking them out.

He looked ahead at the barn, the distant sound of Peridot cackling echoing in the air. She must be watching season three of Camp Pining Hearts. She did mention it was her favorite season.

Maybe I should come back another time, Steven thought. What's one more day without seeing Blue? It's not the end of the world—the Cluster is bubbled, for one thing.

"HEY, STEVEN!"

He froze. Caught.

Steven hastily stuffed the commutator deep into his jacket pocket, awkwardly waving as Lapis flew toward him. Meanwhile, Peridot was sprinting across the ground at full speed—though full speed didn't mean much given her tiny stature. She was, unsurprisingly, the last to reach him, but the first to throw her arms around him in a hug.

"How are you, Steven? It's been a while," Lapis greeted, now firmly on the ground.

"I'm good," Steven replied, glancing down at Peridot. "Thanks again for helping with the Ruby ship, Peri. I don't know what we would've done without your help."

The lovable Peridot smirked, tilting her head up with her hands on her hips. "You're welcome, Steven."

Before she could launch into a rant about her superior intelligence—and probably something unrelated—Steven cut her off. "I need your help again."

Would this inflate her ego? Most likely. Could he ask Lapis? Probably not, given the context. Since Peridot had already contacted one Diamond—and bravely told her off—she was clearly the best gem for this favor. Plus, Steven had no one else to turn to.

As predicted, her smile grew, along with her confidence. "Of course! What do you need?"

Steven bit his lip, still unsure how to ask directly without causing a freakout. Instead, he decided to start with something else. "Let me ask you this: Did you know Blue Diamond is… gone?" he asked as gently as possible.

Peridot's grin immediately vanished, and next to her, Lapis visibly tensed.

"What do you mean, 'gone'?" Lapis's voice was frigid and hollow.

Yup, this was exactly the reaction I expected from her, Steven thought.

"I mean… she gave up her form… to have a… baby. The new Blue Diamond."

Peridot ducked her head, her usual confidence faltering.

"That's impossible," Lapis argued, her eyes wide and her gaze heated. "Blue Diamond isn't that type of gem. Organics mean nothing to her—or to any of the Diamonds."

Steven could understand her denial. The others—save for Amethyst—all loathed Blue Diamond. Even now, they remained wary of her offspring. He didn't blame them. They had history.

But Blue wasn't her mother, just as Steven wasn't his.

"There was a rumor," Peridot replied shyly.

Both Steven and Lapis turned to her—one with curiosity, the other with anger. Peridot rubbed her arm, unsure if she should continue. Lapis's glare made it clear she didn't want to hear anything related to the Diamonds, but Peridot pressed on anyway.

"I'm new—so new I've never seen Blue Diamond. Not the original one, anyway." She kept her eyes on Steven, clearly trying not to cave under Lapis's intense stare. "But there was a rumor a long time ago. It was said she frequented the human zoo more often than usual. Then, one day, there was talk of a tiny Diamond. After that, there was no more Blue Diamond. Even Yellow was silent."

She ducked her head again, staring at the ground. "I admit, I was too busy with my assignments to indulge in rumors, but your question made me remember it."

Steven smiled slightly. "It's not a rumor. I met her."

Both gems stared at him in shock.

"She's nothing like Blue Diamond," he continued, "and that's why I'm here."

Steven quickly took out the communicator, almost dropping it in his haste. Lapis stepped back, eyeing it like it might explode. Well, it could be remotely detonated—but not now, obviously, Steven thought.

"I promise, Blue isn't a shatterer," he said earnestly. "She's the one who helped me get back home. And no—she wasn't the one who got my dad abducted. That was Yellow."

Despite his words, neither seemed convinced. Their expressions gave them away.

Lapis scowled, crossing her arms tightly. She knew Blue Diamond. Blue would never give up her form. She wasn't some childish ruler. She was a shatterer.

When Lapis had returned to Homeworld after being freed from the mirror, she'd been captured and forced to provide information by gems working under Yellow. Sure, she hadn't seen Blue Diamond herself, but Blue was likely out conquering another planet. There's no way she gave up her form. The very idea was completely unbelievable.

"Please, if you just contact Blue, I can prove it to you," Steven implored, clutching the Diamond Line close to his chest like it was the most precious thing in the world.

Doesn't he know this thing can be remotely detonated? Lapis thought. He's too nice.

"Blue would never give up her form," she stated firmly before twisting around and flying back to the barn, a dark expression shadowing her face.

Steven and Peridot watched her go, the tension thick in the air. Steven's pitiful look prevented Peridot from following Lapis. It wasn't that she was afraid—she'd told off Yellow Diamond, for crying out loud—but she did feel bad for Lapis.

At the same time, Steven had never done her wrong, and she trusted him.

With a resigned sigh, Peridot raised her hand, silently beckoning for the communicator. Steven's face lit up with a wide smile as he happily handed it over.

Peridot couldn't help but crack a small smile of her own before focusing on the task. Taking a deep breath, she twisted the Diamond Line, aligning it to blue.

=======

The room was large, empty, brightly lit—and it was perfect.

Blue stood in the center, staring down at the bubbled gem in her hands.

"Are you sure, my Diamond?" an Amethyst asked, her concern clear in her voice.

"I am," Blue confirmed. She had grieved long enough, found a mate, and now had a theory she needed to test. Blue would not stand idle while a corrupted gem remained trapped in torment. If a Diamond had caused this, then a Diamond could fix it.

Blue was determined to try. What kind of leader doesn't take action when it's so clearly needed? She had waited long enough.

"Please leave," she ordered.

"Yes, my Diamond." The Amethyst saluted before leaving the room alongside Pearl, granting their Diamond complete privacy.

Blue took a deep breath, steeling herself. She popped the bubble and quickly placed the gem on the ground before backing away.

The gem began to glow, slowly taking form. The process felt paradoxical—agonizingly slow yet over in the blink of an eye.

An Onyx emerged. Blue recognized her instantly from her first visit back to Earth, during her time with Steven. The Onyx had once been a perfect gem, but now her form was a grotesque shadow of what it had been. Her body was covered in greenish-blue blemishes, her smooth features distorted by jagged horns and sharp edges.

A beast. A tragic remnant of the gem she once was.

You poor thing, Blue silently lamented, her heart aching for the corrupted gem.

The Onyx sniffed the air, her movements animalistic, before turning toward Blue.

"I wish to help you," Blue said gently, hoping the Onyx could understand her words beneath the corruption. Surely, some part of her true self remained intact.

But there was no recognition—only a guttural growl as the beast bolted toward her.

Blue didn't move. She held her ground, staring straight ahead to convey she wasn't afraid.

However, she wasn't foolish. As the beast pounced, Blue summoned a translucent blue shield, blocking the attack. The Onyx clawed at the shield, producing a screeching noise like nails on a chalkboard. Blue flinched at the sound, her composure momentarily faltering.

She quickly retaliated, summoning spikes on her shield that forced the beast backward. With a swift motion, Blue swiped her arm downward, and sharp ice spikes erupted from the ground, forming a tipi-like structure to pin the Onyx in place.

But the beast was strong. She thrashed wildly, cracking several of the ice spikes. Blue clenched her teeth, summoning more spikes to reinforce the structure, doing everything in her power to trap the Onyx without resorting to poofing her.

The room filled with tension as Blue poured her energy into containing the corrupted gem. She was determined to save her—no matter what it took.

Finally, the Onyx yielded, though she continued to growl, her stance tense and ready for another fight. Her animosity toward Blue was unmistakable—she must have been a Crystal Gem.

But Blue didn't care. Whether this gem hated or tolerated her, it didn't matter. What mattered was the glimmer of possibility—that Onyx still had some sense of herself, something Blue could reach and perhaps even heal.

"Please, let me help," Blue implored softly.

In the corners of the room, a bucket of water sat half-spilled. It didn't matter that it was tipped over—Blue could still use it. With a wave of her hand, she levitated the water, drawing it toward them in a controlled flow. The water gently soaked the beast, making her pause in surprise.

Blue stepped closer, her hands trembling but steadying as she cupped the Onyx's chin.

And then it hit her—pain, so much pain, overwhelming and suffocating. A surge of fear, raw and unrelenting, slammed into her like a tidal wave.

Blue nearly let go from the shock of it all, her breath hitching as the intensity of the emotions threatened to consume her. But she held on. She had to.

The Onyx began thrashing again, but this time the growls turned into desperate whimpers. It was no longer anger—it was fear, anguish.

Blue closed her eyes, allowing her gem to glow with a soft, radiant light. She focused, trying to reach through the storm of emotions.

Suddenly, a voice broke through—a scream.

"ROSE! ROSE! HELP! HELP ME, PLEASE!"

The voice echoed in Blue's mind, accompanied by blinding flashes of light. She saw a battlefield, chaos everywhere. Gems were running, panicked. Onyx's voice cried out again, desperate and lost.

Blue's heart pounded. Was this the war? Did we win?

With a sharp gasp, Blue fell backward, snapping back to the present.

Before her was no longer a beast but a half-formed Onyx, her figure trembling and incomplete. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she lay on her side, clutching herself tightly.

"MAKE IT STOP! HELP ME, PLEASE!" she screamed, her voice breaking with anguish.

Blue froze, her own tears spilling freely. The Onyx was in unimaginable agony. Yet, despite the overwhelming emotion, there was progress—small but undeniable.

Blue crawled forward on her hands and knees, her voice gentle but resolute.

"I can help you," she said softly, leaning down to pull the trembling gem into her lap.

The Onyx's face was still partially covered in the coarse, jagged features of her beast form, but her eyes—large, glassy, and petrified—peeked through the haze.

Blue stared into them, her breath catching in her throat. She remembered an Earth idiom: Eyes are the windows to the soul.

And in these windows, Blue saw pain and fear so vast, so deep, she couldn't even begin to fathom it.

But she would try.

Before Blue could try again, knowing her plan was working, a sudden spike of rage pierced through the air—intense and sharp. It wasn't hers.

"Tyrant," Onyx screeched, her voice raw and venomous, before lunging forward.

In a flash, Blue was slammed onto her back, a clawed hand tightening around her neck with suffocating force. She wasn't afraid—Blue knew this was a possibility. If anything, this moment confirmed her theory: Onyx had been part of the rebellion. Beneath the crushing weight, the floor groaned and dented from the pressure of the corrupted gem's fury. Had she been a pure organic, this would have been the end.

But Blue was more.

Calmly, she raised a glowing hand, her gem shimmering with power, and placed it against Onyx's chest.

In one swift motion, a blast of energy surged forward, throwing Onyx off of her. She crashed through the icy tipi and slammed into the wall with a deafening impact, leaving a jagged, 7-foot crater in her wake.

Onyx screeched in pain, her body convulsing against the wall. The sound was chilling—part beast, part broken soul. The screeches morphed into pitiful whimpers, and for a brief moment, Blue saw hope flicker again.

But it didn't last.

The whimpers twisted back into feral roars as Onyx's form fully corrupted once more. Her monstrous horns reemerged, her limbs contorted unnaturally, and her eyes became vacant with rage.

Blue pushed herself to her feet, breathing heavily, her mind racing.

She raised her glowing hand once more, this time summoning energy into a concentrated orb. With precision and regret, she hurled it toward the corrupted Onyx. The impact was immediate—a flash of light enveloped the room, and Onyx's form dissipated into smoke, leaving only her gem behind.

It was enough for today.

Blue trudged forward, her body aching from exertion. Reaching down, she picked up the gem, her expression both resolute and weary. This almost worked, she thought. Her theory had merit, but it was clear she couldn't do this alone. Yellow had been instrumental in their last attempt to heal a corrupted gem, and now, Blue needed her again.

With a deliberate motion, she bubbled the gem, tapping the top to send it to her chambers for safekeeping. She exhaled deeply, her breath shaky but determined.

Without hesitation, Blue turned toward the door, using her gem's energy to slide it open.

Outside stood her Pearl and Amethyst, both wearing matching expressions of concern.

Blue's usually immaculate appearance was disheveled—her silk-smooth hair clung to her face in wild strands, and a faint bruise marred her neck, already fading thanks to her gem's natural healing.

"Where is Yellow? I must speak with her," Blue demanded, her tone urgent and leaving no room for their inquiries about her condition.

"In her sauna, I believe," Pearl answered after a moment, her voice tinged with hesitation.

"Good. Thank you," Blue said briskly, already lifting the hem of her dress for easier movement as she bolted past them, her stride turning into a run.

Caught off guard, the two gems scrambled to follow her.

"What happened, my Diamond? Did it work?" Amethyst called out, struggling to keep pace.

"Yes, but not quite," Blue called over her shoulder, her voice resolute.

Reaching the edge of the bridge they were on, Blue made a sharp turn, her movements fluid despite her urgency. Without hesitation, she leaped off, her form gracefully floating down to the next bridge below.

Without thinking, Amethyst picks up Pearl and jumps down as well. In her haste, Blue nearly falls when she tries to run the moment she lands. The two gems behind her actually do fall. She quickly helps them back up before taking off again toward her destination. This time, she truly trips and falls, but Blue doesn't give them time to assist her. Determined to reach Yellow, she leaps forward, covering yards at a time to avoid further stumbles and quicken her pace.

It doesn't take long before she's sprinting down the halls. Finally, she arrives at the sauna.

"Yellow," she calls out, breathless, standing in the doorway and peering inside. Beyond the steam, Yellow sits on a stone bench, her posture stiffening at the sound of the young gem's voice.

"Any disruptions in your colony?" Yellow asks, her tone serious.

Blue shakes her head. Her colony is completed, and she needs to find a new one—but that's not the issue at hand.

"Corruption," Blue begins, knowing the word would capture Yellow's attention. It does. Yellow straightens, her expression sharp. What did Blue mean by "corruption"? Were her gems not forming properly? Their resources had been dwindling for some time, though Blue had managed to stabilize things with her powers. But was this strange occurrence related to that? Or could it be because Blue is half-organic?

"When I went to Earth, I found gems that survived the blast from the war. They're corrupted now," Blue explains, her breathing finally steady, her heart no longer racing.

Yellow raises a brow. This is what Blue came to her about? The war? A topic Yellow has no desire to revisit? Gems who likely fought for the enemy? Why should she care what became of them—obliterated or corrupted?

"I don't want to hear of it, Blue," Yellow dismisses coldly. The war is over, and she sees no reason to dwell on it. Why Earth wasn't destroyed remains a mystery to her. Perhaps that traitorous Peridot lied about the Cluster's emergence just to gain her attention—and failed. Maybe Yellow should go down and handle things herself, given that an incompetent Peridot couldn't finish the job.

Blue couldn't believe what she just heard. Her brows knitted in frustration, she presses on. "Yellow, this is important. If we can cure these survivors, perhaps—"

"I thought you were done with Earth, Blue," Yellow interrupts sharply.

Blue's face heats up. "I am," she lies, her hand clenching into a fist beneath her long bell sleeves. Why won't she listen? "But the gems on Earth—"

"Bluebell Serenity Diamond!"

Blue gasps, taking an instinctive step back. The name hangs in the air like an accusation. Once, long ago, the original Blue Diamond had come up with that name after something a human had told her. Yellow had always thought it was ridiculous—a silly, organic idea. She never intended to use it. "Blue" was simple, direct, and short. Besides, Pink had been the one to obsess over naming things, and Yellow had no desire to indulge in that anymore.

Yet here she was, uttering it. The name brought an uninvited twinge of nostalgia, but Yellow quickly dismissed it, her stern gaze fixed on the wide-eyed child before her.

Taking a steadying breath, Yellow begins, "I allowed you to go to Earth to explore your organic side, not to bring back… imperfect gems. And say we do heal them—what if they're enemies? You're a Diamond."

She crosses her arms, her scowl deepening. "Pink was shattered by a Rose Quartz from the rebellion. I will not have you shattered as well. Why do you think I gave you the Rejuvenator?"

Blue reflexively places a hand on her neck. Yellow had a point. The corrupted gem she'd tried to heal before coming here had, in fact, attacked her. The Onyx had been part of the rebellion.

Yellow watches her, her calculating gaze dissecting the child's motives. Was Blue lonely? Did she secretly wish for more humans but hesitate to burden Yellow with the request? Could this be why she wanted to bring in these corrupted gems—to fill a void? No, that didn't entirely make sense. Perhaps it was guilt over something the original Blue Diamond had done. But that seemed unlikely, too.

In the end, maybe it didn't matter. Blue was just a child—naive and too innocent. She was simply misguided, that's all there was to it.

"I'm sorry," Blue murmurs, lowering her gaze.

Yellow grimaces. Perhaps she should consider bringing in more humans after all.

A loud ring echoes through the room, signaling the end of the resting period. For the Diamonds, the sauna serves both as a time to recharge and a place where their essence fuels the creation of new gems. Resting time was over now, and Yellow allowed the liquid and steam to drain away through the grates in the floor.

"I'm sorry for yelling," Yellow said, her tone yielding as she stood up. "But please, I don't want a repeat of Pink."

She marched past Blue, who hung her head low.

"I understand," Blue murmured, her voice small.

As Yellow left, Pearl and Amethyst emerged from the side of the wall, their expressions uneasy. They exchanged glances before one of them mustered the courage to speak.

"What… do we do, my Diamond?"

Blue hesitated. Honestly, she didn't know anymore. It was clear Yellow wouldn't listen, and she couldn't entirely dismiss her elder's concerns about the enemies. The Onyx she'd tried to heal had attacked her.

She sighed, a pang of frustration settling in her chest. Why had the war even happened in the first place? If Pink hadn't been shattered, none of those poor gems would be corrupted. She lowered her head, her thoughts swirling. How had Pink even been shattered in the first place? By a Rose Quartz, of all gems—a soldier. A soldier gem, much like an Amethyst or Jasper.

Blue suddenly perked up as realization struck her. Rose Quartz—a gem designed for combat, not diplomacy or leadership. In Homeworld's rigid hierarchy, soldier gems had no direct business being near a Diamond. Of course, they answered to the Diamonds in principle, but proximity like that? It didn't add up.

Her expression hardened. "I'll be in my pool. Bring me Zircon, Facet 34Gl, Cut 7X7," she commanded, turning to Pearl and Amethyst.

Both gems nodded. Amethyst saluted. "Right away, my Diamond!" she said, quickly marching off.

Blue walked with Pearl to her pool. By the time they arrived, Zircon and Amethyst were already waiting, saluting her.

"You requested me, my Diamond?" Zircon asked with a formal bow.

Blue began stripping with Pearl's assistance. "I've realized something," she started, her voice resolute. "Pink's shattering doesn't make sense. On top of that, while I can heal corrupted gems from the war, the effect doesn't last. Why doesn't it stick? And how did a Rose Quartz get close enough to shatter a Diamond?"

Now bare, she stepped forward, hiding nothing as she ascended the steps to the pool. She turned to Zircon with a firm expression. "Please investigate these questions for me. Take as much time as you need."

Zircon saluted again. "Thank you for the leniency, my Diamond," she replied. Zircon was accustomed to a strict schedule, and she was deeply grateful for her new Diamond's understanding.

Blue descended into the pool, the warm liquid enveloping her. She let her thoughts simmer, determination flickering in her gaze.

Blue combed her hair, eyes closed, lost in thought. How had she never realized this before? Was it because the events were in the past, and she hadn't grasped their significance beyond avoiding Pink's mistakes? Either way, she was now determined to get answers.

"My Diamond."

Her eyes snapped open, and she looked up at Pearl, who was holding a flashing object.

"The Diamond line is activating," Pearl informed her, holding it out.

Could it be Yellow? Blue took it, answering quickly, but instead of Yellow, the screen revealed her mate.

"Steven!" she called out joyfully, her voice carrying a wave of relief. All her frustrations about the past seemed to melt away at the sight of him.

"Hey, you. I was—WHOA WHOA!" Steven exclaimed, shielding his eyes as his face turned bright red.

Blue tilted her head, confused by his reaction. She was still in the pool, and yes, she was naked, but why was he so flustered? "Sorry—bad time, bad time! I-I'll just…" Steven stammered, fumbling with his words.

Blue's expression softened as she realized his discomfort. He reminded her of the mates in the "movie" they'd watched together—those scenes where the characters were mating. Such a modest hybrid he was.

"I miss you," she said simply, tilting the screen so it only showed her from the shoulders up. She didn't fully understand his modesty—after all, it was just an organic body—but she respected him enough to adjust.

Steven peeked through his fingers, cautiously lowering his hands when he realized she'd adjusted the angle. He let out a relieved sigh, offering her a small, awkward smile.

"I miss you too," he admitted, settling down on what looked like a warp pad. The surroundings caught her attention—grassy terrain, no sign of the house's wooden structure, nor the barren ground of the Kindergarten.

"How are you these days?" she asked, her gaze softening. "And how is your… parent?" She hesitated, wondering if she should bring up her efforts to cure corrupted gems or her investigation into Rose and Pink.

"I'm good, and so is Dad," Steven replied. "But… you look exhausted."

Blue blinked, her smile faltering as he pointed it out. She hadn't realized how heavy her eyes felt or how visible her weariness was.

"Was there trouble back on Homeworld?" Steven asked, his tone shifting to concern. "Did Yellow catch you doing something?"

Blue's smile turned bitter. She didn't want to burden him with her troubles, but Steven had once expressed his desire to cure the corrupted gems. Perhaps he could help.

"You can talk to me if something is troubling you," Steven said gently, sensing her hesitation. "I want to help."

His sincerity tugged at her, and she wished he could reach through the screen to hold her hand, to show her with touch what his words alone couldn't convey. Yet for now, his words would have to be enough.

Blue laughed softly, her voice tinged with irony. Steven's compassion warmed her, and she wished she could hug him at that moment. "I'm trying to help you," she admitted, her tone gentle but earnest. It was the truth.

Her efforts to bring in the corrupted gems weren't just about righting her mother's wrongs—they were for Steven. She could see how burdened he sometimes looked, carrying the weight of what his mother, Rose Quartz, had supposedly done. Despite having nothing to do with it, he still bore the guilt of Pink Diamond's shattering.

It was darkly humorous, in a way. The original Blue Diamond had shattered thousands of gems over eons, while Rose Quartz had only shattered one. And yet, that one act seemed to overshadow everything.

Blue didn't feel strong emotions toward the original Blue Diamond. She neither liked nor hated her. That version of Blue was gone, and as her offspring, she wanted to be better. She hated the way some gems still looked at her with fear rather than genuine respect. It was part of the reason she avoided shattering altogether—part guilt, part conviction.

Steven, too, carried guilt for something he hadn't done. How ironic. How tragic. And it was exactly why she was determined to solve this mystery—to ease his worries, to lift even a fraction of the burden from his shoulders. Perhaps, just perhaps, Rose Quartz was innocent after all.

"Help me?" Steven asked, raising a brow, his curiosity piqued.

Blue nodded, her gaze softening. "The corrupted gems can be cured," she explained. She decided not to mention Pink's shattering yet. That could wait until she had answers. For now, she could at least share this part of her efforts.

Steven's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but before he could ask, Blue's expression shifted, hardening—not in anger, but in frustrated confusion.

"But it does not stay," she continued. "And Yellow will not help me."

Steven inhaled sharply, his eyes reflecting a mix of surprise and concern. He hadn't known she was working on this. And wait—she could heal things? Was that a hybrid trait?

"I've been trying to cure them too," he said, his excitement bubbling up. But just as quickly, it faded. "But it doesn't stay either," he admitted, his voice tinged with regret.

For a moment, he wondered—What if it could stay if we worked together?

Blue knit her brow, replaying Steven's words in her head. What had he just said?

From the sides of the screen, both Pearl and Amethyst slowly revealed themselves. Amethyst's jaw hung open, while Pearl, though her hair obscured her eyes, radiated a palpable what the hell energy that Steven could feel even through the screen.

"A Quartz… having healing powers?" Amethyst mused aloud, her gaze shifting downward to their equally confused Diamond.

"I don't believe it's in their files," Blue agreed, placing a finger on her chin as she tilted her head, thinking hard. There were so many types of Quartz soldiers that it was impossible to keep track of them all. But in this case, she was considering the general Quartz category, not any specific cut or form.

The thought lingered—she had never seen the files of the bubbled Rose Quartzes, much less their forms or possible powers.

"Well, can a Peridot control metal? 'Cause there's one on Earth that does," Steven reasoned, trying to make sense of it all. He'd been told his mom was the only one who could heal gems, but it wasn't as if he'd met other Rose Quartzes to confirm that claim.

"That's Yellow's department, not mine," Blue informed him absently, still deep in thought about the Rose Quartzes. If they could heal, it would be revolutionary. She wouldn't need Yellow's help. But then again, the corruption was caused by Diamonds, not Quartz soldiers, so perhaps the healing wouldn't stick after all.

Ah, but then there was the connection between gems and the essence of their Diamonds. Maybe it could work.

"This is hurting my head," Amethyst groaned, stepping back out of view and running her fingers through her thick locks.

Blue had to admit—it was a lot to think about.

Steven glanced left, then right, then back to the screen. "Wanna talk about something else for a bit?" he suggested with an awkward smile. The intensity of the discussion was starting to overwhelm everyone, himself included.

Blue gave him a grateful smile, appreciating the reprieve. The corrupted gems weren't going anywhere, and her Zircon wouldn't return with answers for some time. There was no need to rush.

"Okay," she agreed, leaning forward to rest her chin on her palms. Her expression softened. "How are the gems?" she asked, ready to put aside the heavy topics for now. At this moment, she just wanted to hear about Steven and his life.